Disease

The interaction between ocean and climate has many impacts on disease. Global warming and extreme weather can cause drought and floods that destroy crops and pollute wells. Ocean currents can distribute persistent pollutants that corrupt the marine food supply. Inundation of coastal communities can disrupt and dislocate tens of thousands of refugees with inevitable disasterous consequence for their health and survival. Moreover, the destruction of marine habitat and resources such as coral reefs deprives us of the future capacity to discover novel species, new drugs and cures for the treatment or eradication of disease.